Please read...I need insurance help!

My FH's company is switching insurance for the third time, from BCBS to Perfect Health. Upon doing some reasearch into Perfect Health, it sounds alarmingly like a "discount plan" and not actual insurance

First, FH needs to put money in an HSA, up to $2700. Then, he has a $1500 deductible before any benefit/claim is paid. There is no prescription coverage (only a "discount" prescription card). The website clearly states that using "in network providers gives you a discount on services."

Now here are my other issues. In the letter given to him by his employers, they do not call it "health insurance" they call it a "health plan." Further investigation revealed the these High Deductible Health Plans (again, it is not called INSURANCE on the paperwork or website) encourage "healthy lifestyle maintenance and proactive health decision making on behalf of the employee, which results in increased productivity to the employers" which to me sounds like, if you stay healthy you won't get screwed with this "health plan" and your boss will be happy

Here's the kicker...FH needs to have the forms returned tomorrow 12/11. On 12/19, a rep from the agency will come to have an "informational session" about the new plan It seems to me like its a bait and switch, and they want everyone locked in and THEN they're gonna tell them it's only a discount plan

FH works in a dangerous field, outside in the element handling toxic chemicals and hazardous materials. He has asthma that nearly killed him last year. He is on asthma medication for which there is no generic, and even with the copay is still $$$. If this is not true health insurance, he could be very seriously screwed if something happened.

I know this is long, but he's very scared/mad/upset about this and I need some insight. His mom worked at SBU Hospital for 20 years and looked over everything and agreed that it sounded like only a discount plan, even my parents thought so after researching the website

Thanks for reading.

Re: Please read...I need insurance help!

If it was a discount plan, I believe NYS requires the materials to say that it's not insurance.

I looked at the site and, IMO, it appears like a legit insurance company. It's a high deductible plan. There are phone numbers on the website, have you called them and asked your questions directly?

And, if his company is switching plans and they say you need to return the forms, return the forms on time or you will have no coverage at all.

Re: Please read...I need insurance help!

We recently switched to Perfect Health.. I haven't really had to use it yet though.....
My DH has his own business and we were paying over $1000 for an HMO before that we pretty much never used because we are all very healthy.. we switched to Perfect Health because it only costs us $500 and change a month now... we have a $3000 deductible, but after that everything on our plan is covered 100% so if something does happen we do have the insurance but because we really don't visit the Dr. very often this is saving us tons of money. We have also been putting money into our HSA account, which I think is earning 4% now....
I don't think it's a "discount" plan like you think it is though.
Perfect Health plans
Perfect Health

This is the bank we use and I believe you can look into the prices of your medications here too...
prescription pricing

Message edited 12/10/2008 10:00:37 AM.